Heh, with gold it'd look like Donald Trump's building. Way too gaudy for my taste. No thanks!

 

WAIT so this thing isnt a Hybrid, I thought I heard its going to have a 100 hp electic engine too.....

Also personally I think this car doesnt compete with the new Infiniti M45 "fuga" thats coming out. Welll it competes but I would go with the new m45

 

http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia...2005/m45.shtml
(more pics and info)

good luck acura

 

It's an improvement over the current RL but I'm not getting a chubby over it. It does have a "Lexus" look.

I'm still very happy with my TL.

 

OMG that new M45 is wicked!!!

 

the M45 is beautiful. that console looks a little arkward can't see the buttons that well if you were sitting in the driver seat. maybe its just a bad camera angle.

 

those bumps on the seats are speakers, Door sills that light up

 

That M45/Fuga still has switches on the seat - this is stupid. It looks awkward and eats into the bolster space.

Also too much aluminum or whatever shiny substance that is. Maybe it looks hot today, but it will look very dated in a few years.

Also the leather doesn't look all that plush to me. White leather gets filthy anyway. And the two-toned leather on the steering wheel? I think that's just Fugaly!

 

I actually prefer aluminum over wood

plus this car has basicly everything RL has and more...

Body

* Sporty, luxurious design
* Expressive, jewel-like grille and crystal-look headlight cluster
* Stable posture with long wheelbase (114.2 inches), wide tread and short overhangs
* Low, aggressive hoodline and anchored shoulders provides a sporty, powerful silhouette
* All-steel unibody with very high level of torsional rigidity

Engine and Driveline

* 32-valve 4.5-liter DOHC V8 producing 340 horsepower
* Modular cylinder head design, lightweight pistons, titanium valves, continuously variable valve timing, variable length induction system
* 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with manual shift mode
* Enhanced, “next generation” FM (Front Mid-ship) platform

Suspension, Steering and Braking
* Double-wishbone independent front suspension
* Multi-link independent rear suspension with active rear control
* Enhanced braking system with 4-wheel disc brakes, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD)
* Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
* Enhanced power-assisted steering system with sport ratio
* 19-inch wheels and high-performance tires

Interior Features

* Inviting interior feel with use of etched aluminum and leather appointments
* Large cabin space, able to fit five adult passengers comfortably
* Leather-appointed, climate controlled seats
* Contemporary instrument panel
* Advanced “Solar Eclipse” instrument lighting system
* Surround audio system with 14 speakers, 5.1-channel decoding with two personal speakers mounted in each front seat
* Infiniti Intelligent Key system and push-button start system
* Infiniti Navigation System with a new user interface with voice-activated destination entry
* Bluetooth wireless connectivity
* RearView monitor with a wide lens view
* Intelligent Cruise Control

Safety and Security

* Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system with cancel switch, which alerts driver of unintended lane departure
* Zone Body platform design, with front and rear crumple zones
* Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage front supplemental air bags and roof-mounted side-impact curtain air bags
* Brake-operated pre-crash front seat belts

 

I started this thread to discuss the RL, not the M45/Fugly...

The RL's competitors will be the LS430 and I45, and to some extent the 7 series and S class. The M45 will compete with the 5 series and E class, and to some extent the TL, CTS, and Lincoln LS.

 

Superb exterior design. Ugly gauge designs.

 

I started this thread to discuss the RL, not the M45/Fugly...

The RL's competitors will be the LS430 and I45, and to some extent the 7 series and S class. The M45 will compete with the 5 series and E class, and to some extent the TL, CTS, and Lincoln LS.

its around 45-55k near RL price........so this is a choice




anyways, im sorry I guess............., just a little dissappointed in 05 RL

oh IMO M45 looks better, ok im done

 

I'm not dissappointed at all in the new RL. It is what I would expect. The exterior is very nice, not really really sporty, but much better than the current car. I didn't expect it to be sportier than the TL. The interior is really beautiful. I love the new real wood on the dash and doors. The gauges are really hot, have a look at the Acura website, the RL preview has more pics. It shows some nice details including instant gas mileage. Overall I'm impressed and with the SH-AWD it should do well. I think the M45 will be tough competition for it with the 4.5 L V8 engine and what appears to be a very luxurious interior as well.

 

No it is not. The RL is even smaller than before and cannot begin to compete with the LS/S/7. It clearly is now E/5/M45/GS/A6 competition and will still be overshadowed by them.

 

also to add to that, I think flanagan ment the M35, if you read the specs that I posted you'll clearly see the M45 is at RL level

 

I am sure the M35 will produce 280hp at least. The M45 340hp. Though the V-8 powered Infiniti's are no faster than the V-6 powered ones. With them keeping the 5 speed manual, this may not change. I know Benz now has 7 speed autos and Lexus now has a 6 speed auto in the next GS and the current LS.

Whereas I am very impressed with the new M35/45 and interested in checking that car out, the RL leaves me scratching my head again.

 

Umm, not really. Everywhere but the U.S., the Legend (RL) competes in the executive class as a value oriented alternative to the 5er and MB-E. No one outside the U.S. would view owning a Honda Legend as a real alternative to the European marques which is why it's always been a niche player. Here, the car will be loaded with features that are optional on other cars but standard on the RL. I'm sure that Acura will take the same approach with the RL as the TL and position it as a value oriented alternative to BMW, M-B, and Audi. While compelling to some, I doubt you'll see mass defections.

 

The V8s are much faster than the V6 counterparts. This is proven in the FX45 vs the FX35. Also, the current M45 is faster than an auto G35 coupe even though it is huge, ugly, and bloated. Lets see what kind of torque the RL puts out. If it can match the GS430s, then it doesn't need a v8. If it can't and weighs about as much, the RL will be slower than its Japanese counterparts.

 

New RL is nice. It is loaded with all the features that I would want (HP, AWD, great leather, power everything, great Navi). So why am I underwhelmed?? I guess I was hoping for something edgier and sporty looking, more flat sided like a G35 or A4 upright look. That said, the design works and is classy, I like the grill very much. The rear is fine (check out the view kicking up the water - it's DEBADGED - Acura can be cool ... bet the final version will have the redundant "ACURA" badge though).

I agree with others that the style is reminiscent of a Camry or Olds Aurora. I can envision people upon seeing it will say "it's like a big Accord then, right?". The saving grace with the prototype is the terrific wheels, 20" rims will make any car look sporty, but I can't believe that 20" will be standard.

This gives us fence sitters something to think about. Hot looking, smaller, sporty TL with FWD or mellower RL with SHAWD (Q: how does your new RL handle? A: Super! :clown: ). It will be interesting if there is a surge in TL buying next week from those that were waiting to check out the upcoming RL, then decided that they liked the TL better.
Incidently, anyone know the RL weight or price?

 

*cough* new m45

 

what happened to the electric motors? I thought it was going to be a 300hp engine along with electric motors for a combined 400hp? And what is the redline for this car?

 

Based on what I was hoping for, it's just OK.

Things I like:

The overall interior design. I like the wood and the sweeping dash - ala TL.
The seats look very comfortable.
Real time traffic reports on Nav (I want that!)
Instrument cluster design

Things I find just OK:

Exterior design
Paddle Shifters (on this car...why?)

Things I don't like:

Center console design (The wonderful simplicity and logic of the TL console seems to have been lost here - makes no sense to me. Looks more like what I don't like about the Infinitis or a GM car.)
Bose Stereo
Instruments themselves - too busy(again, what happened to the straight forward clarity and simplicity of the TL?)
"I-Drive like" controls - look like a cheap copy of BMW & Audi (hopefully, they'll retain the touch screen Nav!)
30HP bump over the TL doesn't seem like much. I was hoping for more. How much will be lost via the SH-AWD?

IMO, they really should have paid more attention to the interior design triumphs in the TL. Oh well...on the plus side, all of the new features bode very well for the next TL (maybe 2006?).

 

Originally posted by Tajam M45 exterior = awesome, interior = luxury Yacht, the color contrasts are extreme and don't belong in a car IMHO. Actually, I kind of like your car:

 

what will the release date be?

 

The exterior of the new M45 is bada$$ except the back lights are too much. The interior is typical nissan design, which isnt that great. I really like the new GS series from Lexus. That looks much more aggressive.

 

Agreed. IN the European mags CAR and EVO, they compare the RL to the CAmry and Maxima. They pretty much hate all 3 cars. The things they write about the RL are so harsh, it's not even funny.

I don't see TL owners stepping up to an RL. I think TL owners will continue to view their cars are the superior Acura, as the TL pretty much has been since 1999. I see TL owners moving up to the new M45 or the next GS 430. Those cars seem more catered towards the TL buyer. IMO.

 

Ok, now maybe I shouldn't have gone down the path of comparing RL to Camry because that's too extreme. Actually this link:
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=219613
has some views of the RL on the auto show floor that make it look more exciting.
I think the RL has more "sport" to its look than the new Lexus GS.

I wonder how the RL will look in a dark color? Bet the chrome will look good standing out.

 

Hey, I didn't write the review . The fact is, the Acura Legend is STILL arguably the best Acura sedan ever. This is a 15-10 year old car. The RL was not well recieved by Legend owners nor anyone (the name change didn't help). They finally change it after, 9 years and it's definitely a step up from the current RL. Acura again chooses to go into a niche instead of battling head to head, which is a good thing.

I don't find this car sporty at all. It's nice but BLAH to me. Interior is great.

 

That sounds like the RX400

 

what kind of modability are we looking at for this engine? Why is it only a 5 speed smg when lexus has a 6speed on the LS?

 

I like it... I would get it if I have the money for an almost $50k car...

I wonder what size rims will actually be for production...

 

Wheels are more than likely to be 17" standard with a 245-50 17, since that's what it says on the plate on the drivers' side door.

oxidizer: Using a 6 speed 'box would entail developing a whole new transmission. As far as I can tell, the AWD system is a new generation of the VTM-4 used on the MDX, which uses a 5-speed. Also, the 6-speed to which you refer is a standard ZF designed transmission which can be found in countless cars these days. Honda generally uses its own transmissions.

 

What about using a 6 Speed MT, they already have the manual transmision and it would be nice to see. After all if they were able to add a MT to the RL they would be one of a few companies with AWD and a MT which might be a plus....

This would be especally nice if BMW releases a 5 series with x-Drive in 2005 or 2006 which looks like a distinct posability. This would mean that the RL would be ahead (even if for only a little bit) of heavy competition.

I know people dont like comparing the RL to a 5 series but I would suspect that the RL will be cros-shopped with the 5 and Merceds E class...


Just my 2c

 

Flan,
I was wondering about the tranny because the RL is going to compete against some tough opponants, I know the lexus LS430 has a 6speed auto now, and everyone seems like they will do the same. It would be nice to have a 6speed smg on the RL though. But I am really excited to know about what kinds of mods you can do to this car.

 

Maybe. Looks like the evolution of the 2nd gen. TL to me...overall lines are very similar in profile. Got the Camry/Accord-ish big butt thing going though.

 

17s seem more likely for the production model. It's pretty hard to provide a smooth, luxury sedan ride on 20s. Now if pimpin' is what you're all about...

 

I am curious as to what the pricing is going to be on the new RL. It is definetly going to be competing with the M, GS, E-Class, 5-Series, STS, and A6. I think that it looks alright, but I much prefer the trend in styling that Acura developed for the TL and TSX. This new RL looks Honda-like unoffensive, while the TL and TSX look more like crisp sport-oriented European cars, drivers cars too. I think that the TL and TSX interiors look nicer and more substantial as well for some reason. Maybe they designed it this way based on buyer demographics and older age groups.

The new M45's pricing has already been relased. Going for about $54k for a fully loaded RWD Sport model with almost every imaginable option:

It seems to be undercutting the 545i and E500 by almost $10-15k. That is a lot of cash in the pocket, netting an awesome ride.

 

I am with Drew, I priced the M45 loaded at about 54k as well. Awesome for the price. The AWD V-6 M45 was $42,100. The RL may have a lil more power but better not cost much more.

 

This RL is starting to grow on me for some reason, but I still feel like that they could've come up with something better than this.

BEWARE OF CRAZY IDEA BELOW:

I think this would be a crazy idea of making an Acura RLC where the 'C' equals Coupe. This car would look so ill as a Coupe...

 

did anybody notice that it has Michelin tires?